Valentine’s Day – it’s a yes from me! (cynics beware)

I really can’t stand people who hate Valentine ’s Day (or Christmas or Easter – or any celebratory period for that matter). To me these times stand for positivity. I’ve heard the whole: ‘You should celebrate your love every day’ crap a million times and that ‘Valentines Day is just a bogus commercial holiday’ even more. And I’mma stop you right there.

Going home after work and watching the news, eating dinner together and brushing your teeth in unison is NOT celebrating your love. Yes you should be making an effort to make your partner feel special every day, but this is a chance to actually c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e and acknowledge how special that other person is to you. And if buying a card, and some flowers and choccies is ‘too commercial’ for you, I suggest you re-think that new iPhone 6 my friend. #priorities

If you’re single, then go out with your mates, have some drinks and see what happens. A simple hello could lead to a million things – trust me. Or, stay in and curl up with some good movies, a bag of sweets and laugh with your old friends. Life is all about love, so god-damn embrace it people.

This is Dave and my 6th Valentine’s together.

The first year he bought me some purple ear warmers. ‘But they’re really soft,’ he said. Safe to say things have improved since then on the gift front. Each year we make sure we have some super good food and a lotta red wine. Actually, my favorite part of the day is reading the message in my card. I could give or take the rest if it came down to it. Words are important to me and having those letters and cards from over the years is something I’ll always treasure.

This year Dave’s promised to make me homemade chocolate fondants – right up my street. Unlike the ear warmers.

In light of this day all this luvvy-duvvy malarkey, here are some of my tips for a lasting relationship. They aren’t definitive, but they’ve got me six years in.

Say ‘I love you’ every day.

No phones in the bed.

Do activities together that you both enjoy whether it’s working out, cooking or curling up with Dexter on the sofa. Whatever floats ya boat.

Make an effort with your appearance. This doesn’t mean you can’t bum out in sweatpants together. But go the extra mile sometimes.

Compliment your partner at least once a day.

No farting or burping. Not a turn on. Nope.

Make an effort with your partner’s friends and family – this is really important.

Don’t do everything together. I like to have my own hobbies, interests and general space sometimes. You can learn from each other this way and it’s crucial to have your own thing going on.

Appreciate your differences. Yin and Yang after all.

LAUGH! This is key. Be silly together and don’t take things too seriously. Least said soonest mended.